Highlander-style immortals in the D&D world

[RUMBLETiGER]

So one of my buddies/fellow player/occasional DM is trying to design Highlander-style immortals into our campaign setting. Concept being simmilar to the TV show: very rarely, a humanoid is born with immortality, upon dying for the first time it triggers powers- freezes aging, provides some Fast healing, can only be killed by a coup de grace attack, immortals can detect other immortals within a certain range. When one immortal beheads another ("Quickening"), the victor recieves a bonus to HP and some other ability boosts that are semi-perminent, however when an immortal "dies" other than beheading, he takes slight penalties that are semi-perminent. The "dead" immortal gets up x rounds later. Awakening from dying and immediately after a quickening, the individual is fatigued for x rounds.

The only added twist not from the show is if a mortal beheads an immortal, the mortal gains immortality.

We are working on some mechanic that ties this immortality to the Positive Energy plane, simmilar to how undead are fueled by negative energy somehow. Toying with ideas for the origin of this, either a powerful adventurer who tapped into the Positive Energy plane long ago and unlocked the secret, an experiment of one of the existing deities, or a secluded deity we make up who resides on the Positive Energy plane.

Basically, I'm tossing this up for input on mechanics of such an ability and/or background concept. It isn't likely that PCs would achieve this immortality. This is to introduce a really powerful NPC and plot hook, the immortals we encounter will likely be very old with Epic levels.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Someone around here has done a take on Highlander d20, which I've attached to this post. I don't know who to credit, though, since there's no name in the doc itself!

I've never played it or really looked into how it works, and I believe it's meant to be used as Highlander specificially, trather than merely to be like Highlander. But you might be interested in taking a look at its mechanics.

 

[domino]

I would think that most of the "dying" and recovering would be easily enough handled with regeneration. Everything but decapitation is nonlethal damage. They are knocked unconscious when they "die" and depending on how bad the damage was determines how long they're "dead" for.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The trick is less about how to kill the Highlanders and more about what you get when you kill one.

I'd look at the slain Highlander's skill list and give the slayer +2 "Highlander" bonuses to the highest 5 skills, which may stack with other "Highlander" bonuses.

 

[PureGoldx58]

Running a Highlander like game I would imagine would involve a lot of Sean Connery clones...I know I'd play one.

As per the mechanics what you have fits it except the mortal killing the immortal thing makes it less a gift, more a curse. Like a vampire in that "You are awesome, but now everyone wants you dead.".

Edit: I called Sean Connery first!

 

[kitcik]

It isn't likely that PCs would achieve this immortality.

Love the idea. Would love to play in the game.

The above is the gaping hole in your thinking though. As soon as they hear mortals can gain immortal status - and you can be sure of knowledge this-and-that checks up the wazoo - they will desire it like nothing else. You must either give it to them in the end, or have a pack of dissatisfied players. At least, that is how the players I know would feel.

 

[PureGoldx58]

Love the idea. Would love to play in the game.

The above is the gaping hole in your thinking though. As soon as they hear mortals can gain immortal status - and you can be sure of knowledge this-and-that checks up the wazoo - they will desire it like nothing else. You must either give it to them in the end, or have a pack of dissatisfied players. At least, that is how the players I know would feel.

There are already ways for PCs to achieve immortality. But this one is probably the fastest and would most likely be the easiest of any choice.

 

[Jack Simth]

So one of my buddies/fellow player/occasional DM is trying to design Highlander-style immortals into our campaign setting. Concept being simmilar to the TV show: very rarely, a humanoid is born with immortality, upon dying for the first time it triggers powers- freezes aging, provides some Fast healing, can only be killed by a coup de grace attack, immortals can detect other immortals within a certain range. When one immortal beheads another ("Quickening"), the victor recieves a bonus to HP and some other ability boosts that are semi-perminent, however when an immortal "dies" other than beheading, he takes slight penalties that are semi-perminent. The "dead" immortal gets up x rounds later. Awakening from dying and immediately after a quickening, the individual is fatigued for x rounds.

The only added twist not from the show is if a mortal beheads an immortal, the mortal gains immortality.

We are working on some mechanic that ties this immortality to the Positive Energy plane, simmilar to how undead are fueled by negative energy somehow. Toying with ideas for the origin of this, either a powerful adventurer who tapped into the Positive Energy plane long ago and unlocked the secret, an experiment of one of the existing deities, or a secluded deity we make up who resides on the Positive Energy plane.

Basically, I'm tossing this up for input on mechanics of such an ability and/or background concept. It isn't likely that PCs would achieve this immortality. This is to introduce a really powerful NPC and plot hook, the immortals we encounter will likely be very old with Epic levels.

Silly questions: What happens if you cast Resurrection on:
1) An Immortal who's "Dead"?
2) An Immortal who's been beheaded?

 

[PureGoldx58]

Silly questions: What happens if you cast Resurrection on:
1) An Immortal who's "Dead"?
2) An Immortal who's been beheaded?

Removing resurrection spells from the game could make this even more appealing though.

 

[Jack Simth]

Removing resurrection spells from the game could make this even more appealing though.

For the right audience, yes. However, my impression is that the OP is bringing the NPC(s) into an existing campaign, rather than building a new campaign for it. In which case, removing resurrection effects mid-game is not generally a good move.